Largeheartedness of David
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He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, He that keepeth Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep... .
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy
coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Psalm 121:3-8
Nabal, the Hard-Hearted Farmer
David and his men protected the flocks and herds of a wealthy man
named Nabal, who had vast possessions in Paran. Nabal’s character
was churlish and niggardly.
It was the time of sheepshearing, a season of hospitality. David
and his men were in need of provisions, and the son of Jesse sent ten
young men to Nabal, bidding them greet him in their master’s name:
“Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be
unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers:
now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was
there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
[484]
[Not Mount Carmel, but a place in the territory of Judah.] Ask thy
young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore ... give, I pray thee,
whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son
David.”
This rich man was asked to furnish from his abundance some relief
to the necessities of those who had done him such valuable service.
The answer Nabal returned indicated his character: “Who is David?
and who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants nowadays that
break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread,
and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give
it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?”
David was filled with indignation. He determined to punish the
man who had denied him what was his right, and had added insult
to injury. This impulsive movement was more in harmony with the
character of Saul than that of David. The son of Jesse had yet to learn
patience.